Contactless data carrier

ABSTRACT

A data carrier for noncontacting control of persons with nontransferable entitlement to utilize a service is integrated into a bracelet ( 1 ) so as to be useless after the bracelet ( 1 ) is opened.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a data carrier for noncontacting control ofpersons with nontransferable entitlement to utilize a service.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Compared to data carriers which must be inserted into a control device,noncontacting data carriers interacting with a write-read unit in theradio wave range over a relatively large data transmission distance.Noncontacting data carriers have the advantage of being used hands-freewhile being fastened to the clothing in the form of a card for exampleor integrated into a wrist watch. They are therefore preferably used forexample with the admission control devices of ski lifts and cable carsgenerally having a person singling device such as a turnstile which isactuated by the write-read unit or unblocked for a person when thewrite-read unit receives corresponding data from the data carrier.

In order to prevent nontransferable data carriers from being passed onto other persons, one can provide them with a photo of the user.However, elaborate photos economically only tend to be worthwhile forexpensive data carriers with a longer period of validity, for exampleweekly ski passes in a winter sport area.

Data carriers for lower-value services, e.g. day ski passes, are thusstill improperly passed on to other persons. This results inconsiderable damage for lift and cable car operators.

DE 84 28 610 U1 discloses a bracelet for persons under supervision, suchas patients in mental institutions, which can only be opened with aspecial tool. That is, the data carrier is not destroyed when thebracelet is removed. The bracelet has an integrated magnetic stripewhich triggers a signal when the patient passes an electronic barrier atthe exit of the institution.

WO 88/09541 A discloses a bracelet with a memory chip and an antennaconnected therewith to be used for example for persons who have beensentenced to house arrest. Connected to the memory chip is aphotodetector which is driven by a light source via an optical fiber inthe bracelet. When the bracelet is opened by pulling one end out of thehousing, the light supply to the photodetector is interrupted and thechip thereby deprogrammed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a relatively simply constructednoncontacting data carrier with nontransferable personal entitlement,for example for a short duration, for utilizing one or more services,e.g. the passenger transportation facilities of a ski area, which cannotbe improperly passed on to other persons.

The above advantage is obtained according to the invention byintegrating the noncontacting data carrier into a bracelet such thatsaid data carrier is permanently useless, i.e. destroyed, when thebracelet is opened. The data carrier, which interacts with thewrite-read unit of the admission control device in the RF range(10⁴-3.10⁹ Hz), becomes inoperative so that the person singling deviceremains unactuated or blocked. This reliably prevents thenontransferable data carrier from being improperly passed on to otherpersons.

The data carrier can be rendered useless in different ways. For example,the antenna and/or the microchip can be rendered useless, or the circuitboard if there is one connecting the antenna with the microchip. Themicrochip must be rendered useless in particular if a microchip with anintegrated antenna is used.

The antenna must be adjusted exactly to a certain operating frequency.Accordingly, the antenna geometry must not vary. According to theinvention, the antenna is therefore preferably disposed in a rigid partof the bracelet, in particular in a part of the bracelet closure.

For the same reasons, the antenna is connected with the chip by a lineas short as possible, for example via a circuit board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in more detail below by way of examplewith reference to the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the two parts of the closure of abracelet with a broken-away upper side of a closing part according to afirst embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a section along line II—II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the two parts of a closure of a braceletaccording to another embodiment, likewise with a broken-away upper sideof one closing part; and

FIG. 4 shows a section through yet another embodiment of the closure.

FIG. 5 is a diagramatic and schematic depiction of how a backup featureof the data carrier of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, a partly shown bracelet 1 has two closingparts 2, 3. One part 2 of the closure is formed by flat housing 4, andother part 3 by a tongue.

While bracelet 1 extends away from one end of housing 4, the housing hasat its other end slot 5 into which tongue 3 is inserted when bracelet 1is closed.

Housing 4 has a cavity 11 for receiving inserted tongue 3, and amicrochip 6 bonded to circuit board 7 to which antenna coil 8 isconnected at the same time. Chip 6 is disposed in recess 21 of circuitboard 7. Antenna coil 8 can extend along the periphery of circuit board7. Collectively, microchip 6 and antenna coil 8 are constructed tobroadcast signals.

Circuit board 7 has depressions 9 which are engaged by barblikeprojections 10 formed on tongue 3 when tongue 3 has been inserted intohousing 4. Instead, projections can be provided on circuit board 7 anddepressions in tongue 3, or depressions in circuit board 7 and tongue 3which are engaged by accordingly disposed projections in a directionopposite the inserting direction of tongue 3.

When tongue 3 is pulled out of housing 4 to open bracelet 1, thisphysically damages the circuit board 7, the antenna 8 and/or the chip 6,to render the data carrier permanently inoperative. In other words,microchip 6 and antenna 8 are no longer able to broadcast signals.

The embodiment according to FIG. 3 differs from that according to FIGS.1 and 2 substantially only in that a conductor loop 12 (shown by dashedlines) is integrated into bracelet 1 and extends along the bracelet 1from one part 2 to the other part of the closure, being connected tochip 6 via circuit board 7.

Conductor loop 12 is connected e.g. via an output of chip 6 with theprocessor thereof. When conductor loop 12 is severed, chip 6 and thusthe data carrier become inoperative.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the data carrier is thus alsoprotected from bracelet 1 being improperly severed outside closure 2, 3and passed on to another person, and bracelet 1 possibly joined togetherat the severed place, e.g. with adhesive tape.

In order to fit bracelet 1 to the circumference of the particularperson's wrist so that it cannot be slipped off the hand, it can furtherhave a bracelet circumference fitting device which cannot be opened oronly by force, for example an expansion mandrel, a rivet or in themanner of a cable tie.

Preferably, said bracelet circumference fitting device is designed so asto be opened only by rendering the data carrier permanently useless,i.e. destroying it.

For example, housing 4 and circuit board 7 can be provided with bore 14,and tongue 3 and/or the corresponding end of bracelet 1 with openings 15disposed one behind the other, as shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1. Byinserting tongue 3 or the end of bracelet 1 through slot 5 andoptionally inserting it through a corresponding slot at the other end ofthe housing one makes opening 15, which corresponds to the particularwrist circumference, congruent with bore 14 in board 7 or housing 4, andby introducing a rivet 25 (FIG. 5) one undetachably connects housing 4and board 7 with tongue 3 or the end of bracelet 1.

The rivet 25 can be designed to be electroconductive, thereby closing acontact 26 (FIG. 5) necessary for the functioning of the data carrier,for example forming an interruption of antenna 8 or for example acontact between conductor loop 12 and an output 27 of chip 6, asexplained in connection with FIG. 3.

Instead one can e.g. use a rivet comprising two undetachablyinterconnectable parts which are inserted into housing 4 from one andthe other side, thereby mutually locking undetachably. Also, it ispossible for example to provide housing 4 with a corresponding bore onlyon one side into which a button is introduced to lock undetachably withreceiving means connected with board 7.

According to the variant of the bracelet circumference fitting deviceshown in FIG. 4, one end of bracelet 1 is provided like a cable tie withsawtooth profile 16 which cooperates with at least one projectionlocking into sawtooth profile 16, for example expansion mandrel 17.Mandrel 17 is disposed on the side of circuit board 7 facing sawtoothprofile 16 and spring-loaded toward sawtooth profile 16. Expansionmandrel 17 can be provided for example on board 18 which is connectede.g. by shape mating with circuit board 7. Instead of with circuit board7, mandrel 17 or other projection can be connected with antenna 8, chip6 and/or conductive path 12. Should tongue 3 be pulled out of housing 4,extension mandrel 17 is pivoted so as to cause the mandrel to damage theantenna 8, chip 6 and/or conductive path 12.

In order to render the data carrier permanently useless upon forcibleopening of the bracelet, the bracelet can also have for example a ratedbreaking point in the area of conductive path 12.

Bracelet 1 with the inventive data carrier can thus be opened andremoved by the person wearing bracelet 1, for example a skier, himself.However, upon removal of bracelet 1 the inventive data carrier becomespermanently useless.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-contacting data carrier comprising acircuit board; a microchip and an antenna mounted to said circuit board,wherein said antenna is connected to said microchip and said microchipand said antenna are collectively configured to broadcast signals; abracelet, said bracelet having opposed first and second ends, the firstend of said bracelet being fixedly connected to said circuit board andwherein said bracelet is dimensioned so that the second end of saidbracelet can at least partially overlap said circuit board; and aconnecting member extending between said circuit board and a portion ofthe second end of said bracelet that overlaps said circuit board, saidconnecting member being connected to at least one of said circuit boardor said bracelet so that movement of the second end of said braceletaway from said circuit board results in movement of said connectingmember against said circuit board, said microchip or said antenna thatphysically damages said circuit board, said microchip or said antenna sothat said microchip and said antenna are not able to broadcast signals.2. The non-contacting data carrier of claim 1, wherein: said connectingmember comprises at least one projection that is attached to the secondend of said bracelet; said circuit board is formed with a at least onedepression in which said one projection is seated when the second end ofsaid bracelet is fitted over said circuit board and said at least oneprojection is attached to said bracelet and is positioned so that, whenthe second end of said bracelet is moved away from said circuit board,said projection physically damages said circuit board, said microchip orsaid antenna.
 3. The non-contacting data carrier of claim 1, wherein:said connecting member comprises at least one projection that isconnected to said circuit board and directed towards the second end ofsaid bracelet; the second end of said bracelet is formed with at leastone depression in which said at least one projection is seated when thesecond end of said bracelet is fitted over said circuit board; and saidat least one projection is attached to said circuit board and is seatedin the bracelet depression so that, upon movement of the second end ofsaid bracelet away from said circuit board, said at least one projectionis displaced so as to cause physical damage to said circuit board, saidmicrochip or said antenna.
 4. The non-contacting data carrier of claim1, wherein: a housing is provided, and said circuit board, saidmicrochip and said antenna are disposed in said housing, the first endof said bracelet extends from said housing, and said housing is formedwith an opening in which the second end of said bracelet is inserted. 5.The non-contacting data carrier of claim 4, wherein: one of said circuitboard or the second end of said bracelet is provided with a projectionthat functions as said connecting member; the other of said end of saidbracelet or said circuit board defines a depression in which saidprojection seats when the second end of said bracelet is inserted insaid housing; and said projection is attached to said circuit board orsaid bracelet and is seated in the depression so that, movement of thesecond end of said bracelet out of said housing results in movement ofsaid projection that causes physical damage to said circuit board, saidmicrochip or said antenna.
 6. The non-contacting data carrier of claim1, further including an irremovable fastening member attached to thesecond end of said bracelet for holding the second end of said braceletover said circuit board.
 7. The non-contacting data carrier of claim 6,further including a contact connected to said microchip wherein saidcontact is positioned so that said irremovable fastening member abutssaid contact and closes a circuit formed by said contact and saidmicrochip and said antenna are collectively configured to not broadcastsignals upon the opening of said circuit formed by said contact and saidmicrochip.
 8. The non-contacting data carrier of claim 1, furtherincluded a conductor disposed in said bracelet and electricallyconnected to said microchip wherein said microchip and said conductorare collectively configured so that the separation of said conductorrenders said microchip inoperative.
 9. The non-contacting data carrierof claim 1, wherein: the second end of said bracelet is provided with aplurality of spaced apart teeth that are directed towards said circuitboard: and said connecting member is a mandrel having opposed first andsecond ends and the first end of said mandrel is disposed against saidcircuit board, said microchip or said antenna, the second end of saidmandrel is disposed between two said teeth of said bracelet and saidmandrel is dimensioned so that the movement of the second end of saidbracelet results in movement of said mandrel against at least one ofsaid circuit board, said microchip or said antenna so that said mandreldamages of said circuit board, said microchip or said antenna.
 10. Anon-contact data carrier comprising: a housing having first and secondopposed ends wherein an opening is formed in the second end of saidhousing; a microchip and an antenna disposed in said housing, whereinsaid microchip and said antenna are connected together and arecollectively configured to transmit a signal; a bracelet, said bracelethaving first and second opposed ends, the first end of said braceletbeing fixedly secured to the first end of said housing and said braceletbeing dimensioned so that the second end of said bracelet can beinserted in the opening formed in said housing; and a connecting memberdisposed in said housing and that is located adjacent at least one ofsaid microchip or said antenna, wherein said connecting member extendsfrom or is connected to the second end of said bracelet so that, uponwithdrawal of said bracelet from the housing opening, said connectingmember physically abuts said microchip or said antenna so as to damagesaid microchip or said antenna so that said microchip and said antennaare not able to broadcast signals.
 11. The non-contacting data carrierof claim 10, wherein: said antenna is connected to a circuit boarddisposed in said housing; and said connecting member is positionedagainst or extends from said circuit board so that withdrawal of saidbracelet from the housing opening results in said connecting memberdamaging at least one of said circuit board, said microchip or saidantenna.
 12. The non-contacting data carrier of claim 11, wherein: saidcircuit board or the second end of said bracelet is provided with aprojection that functions as said connecting member; the other of saidend of said bracelet or said circuit board defines a depression in whichsaid projection seats when the second end of said bracelet is insertedin said housing; and said projection is attached to said circuit boardor said bracelet and is seated in the depression so that, movement ofthe second end of said bracelet out of said housing results in movementof said projection that causes physical damage to at least one of saidcircuit board, said microchip or said antenna.
 13. The non-contactingdata carrier of claim 11, wherein: the second end of said bracelet isprovided with a plurality of spaced apart teeth that are directedtowards said circuit board: and said connecting member is a mandrelhaving opposed first and second ends and the first end of said mandrelis disposed against said circuit board, said microchip or said antenna,the second end of said mandrel is disposed between two said teeth ofsaid bracelet and said mandrel is dimensioned so that the movement ofthe second end of said bracelet results in movement of said mandrelagainst said circuit board, said microchip or said antenna so that saidmandrel damages said circuit board, said microchip or said mandrel. 14.The non-contacting data carrier of claim 10, wherein: said antenna ismounted to a substrate disposed in said housing; and said connectingmember comprises at least one projection that is attached to the secondend of said bracelet wherein said projection is configured to engagesaid substrate upon insertion of the second end of said bracelet in saidhousing and is positioned to move against said substrate upon withdrawalof said bracelet against said housing so that said movement of saidprojection against said substrate results in damage to said microchip orsaid antenna.
 15. The non-contacting data carrier of claim 10, furtherincluding a irremovable fastening member attached to the second end ofsaid bracelet for holding the second end of said bracelet to saidhousing.
 16. The non-contacting data carrier of claim 15, furtherincluding a contact connected to said microchip wherein said contact ispositioned so that said irremovable fastening member abuts said contactand closes a circuit formed by said contact and said microchip and saidantenna are collectively configured to not broadcast signals upon theopening of said circuit formed by said contact.
 17. The non-contactingdata carrier of claim 10, further included a conductor disposed in saidbracelet and electrically connected to said microchip wherein saidmicrochip and said conductor are collectively configured so that theseparation of said conductor renders said microchip inoperative.
 18. Thenon-contacting data carrier of claim 10, wherein: the second end of saidbracelet is provided with a plurality of spaced apart teeth that aredirected towards said microchip or said antenna; and said connectingmember is a mandrel having opposed first and second ends and the firstend of said mandrel is disposed in said housing adjacent at least one ofsaid microchip or said antenna, the second end of said mandrel isdisposed between two said teeth of said bracelet and said mandrel isdimensioned so that the movement of the second end of said braceletresults in movement of said mandrel against said microchip or saidantenna so that said mandrel damages of said microchip or said antenna.19. A non-contacting data carrier comprising: a bracelet having a firstend formed with a closure and a second end opposite the closure, whereinthe bracelet is dimensioned so that the second end can seat in saidclosure and said closure is shaped to hold the second end; a microchipdisposed in said closure; an antenna disposed in said closure, whereinsaid microchip and said antenna are connected together and areconfigured to broadcast signals; a projecting member extending from oneof said closure or the second end of said bracelet that has a free endwherein said projecting member is positioned so that, upon seating ofthe second end of said bracelet in said closure, the free end of saidprojection engages a portion of said bracelet or said closure and saidprojecting member is connected to said closure or said bracelet so that,upon removal of the second end of said bracelet from said closure, saidprojecting member moves against said antenna or said microchip tophysically damage said antenna or said microchip.
 20. A non-contactingdata carrier comprising: a bracelet having a first end formed with aclosure and a second ends opposite the closure, wherein: the bracelet isdimensioned so that the second end can seat in said closure; saidclosure is shaped to hold said second end; and the second end is shapedto have a plurality of spaced-apart teeth; a microchip disposed in saidclosure; an antenna disposed in said closure, wherein said microchip andsaid antenna are connected together and are configured to broadcastsignals; a mandrel is disposed in said closure, wherein: said mandrelhas first and second opposed ends; the first end of said mandrel isseated against a surface in said closure; the second end of said mandrelis positioned between two said teeth of said bracelet; said mandrel ispositioned against at least one of said microchip or said antenna; andsaid mandrel is dimensioned so that movement of the second end of saidbracelet away from said closure results in movement of said mandrelagainst said microchip or said antenna so that said mandrel physicallydamages said microchip or said antenna.